First Winner from First Runner for Cluster

Mark Smith - Sunday November 18

A ground-saving ride by Craig Newitt paved the way for Gee Gees Darl to make a winning career debut in a 1000 metre maiden at Hobart on Saturday to credit Laurnek Stud's first season sire Cluster (Fastnet Rock) with his first winner from his first runner.

Tracking the early speed after making a quick start, Gee Gees Darl defied a betting drift to defeat Fitzwilliam (Wordsmith) by half a length with a further length back to Gee Gees Punter (Wordsmith).

Advertisement


Gee Gees Darl (pictured as a yearling ) was a $45,000 purchase by Paul and Elizabeth Geard from the Alva Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.

The striking black filly is the fourth foal and the third winner from as many to race out of the 6-time winning Tough Speed mare Speedy Sky who placed in the Listed Tasmanian oaks and Listed TRC Stutt Stakes.

A highly talented son of Fastnet Rock, Cluster won three races including the Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes and placed in the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes and Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes in a career restricted to 12 starts.

He covered 68 mares in his first season and stands this year at Laurnek Stud for an unchanged fee of $6,600 inc GST

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cluster Stakes His Claim
The rise of champion sire Fastnet Rock as a sire of sires has been clearly illustrated by his brilliant sons Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge, Smart Missile and now Your Song, so Neville Murdoch of Larneuk Stud is more than hopeful he has the horse to write the next chapter of success for this emerging sire dynasty.
Brilliant Start for Cluster
Two runners, two winners, the perfect start for Larneuk Stud's exciting young stallion Cluster.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Larneuk Celebrate Fairytale Start for Cluster
Larneuk Stud's exciting young stallion Cluster is off and rolling with his very first runner - the promising Gee Gees Darl - recording such a gutsy victory at her Hobart debut last weekend.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Cluster Proves Poplar at Tassie MM
The first Cluster to make her way through the sales ring looks set to race with a variation of "Gee Gee" in her name after being purchased by successful owners Paul and Elizabeth Geard at Thursday's Tasmanian Magic Millions.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.